The Hoboken Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to approve auditor Hymanson, Parnes & Giampolo at a March 14 meeting. Although the audit has been delayed, the administration is now able to start its yearly audit and fulfill this crucial federal requirement. The firm was recommended by Hoboken Housing Authority Executive Director Carmelo Garcia in both August and December, but the board previously rejected the recommendation. Hymanson, Parnes & Giampolo came in as the lowest bidder and scored highest in technical factors governed by the federal procurement process.

“I look forward to getting the audit started and to showing the public that we are not only above board but exceeding all expectations,” said Garcia.

Hoboken woman dies from injuries suffered in Marine View Plaza fire

Jean Callan, 62, passed away Sunday night after a small fire broke out Saturday afternoon at her apartment in Marine View Plaza, according to NJ.com.

Callan is a longtime board member of the Friends of the Hoboken Public Library.

She was rescued from the apartment by two firefighters who found her near the kitchen, according to the story. She was treated at St. Barnabas Burn Center for burns over 60 percent of her body.

The story cites an email to members of the Friends of the Library that said that her two dogs also died from injuries in the blaze.

Board of Education passes school budget

The 2013-2014 school budget was passed on Wednesday, March 27 at a special meeting. The total budget was $64,789,691. In previous years, the budget has been voted on alongside Board of Education candidates, however, with school board elections moved to November, the budget did not have to be voted on because it does not exceed a state-mandated budget cap.

The tax increase on the average residence currently assessed at $145,000 is $34.42 per year, according to the city tax assessor. Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback said Thursday that though the budget reflects a 3.98 percent tax levy increase, savings over the past three years allowed for the school to utilize spending authority that has not been spent in that time.

“The budget was approved by the county,” he said. “We were able to use some of the money that has not been used in the past, going back three years. So in other words, in the last three years if the cap was two [percent], we spent zero. The following year the cap was two, we spent zero. And the following year the cap was two, we spent zero. Now we are able to go back and use part of that money.”

Former board member Maureen Sullivan sent out a letter objecting to the budget and tax levy increase prior to the meeting. “As a board member from 2009 until this past January,” Sullivan said in her letter, “I objected to any tax levy increase suggested by administrators (who didn’t pay taxes here), as did my fellow former member Theresa Minutillo, though I always wanted to go further with actual tax cuts. Now, the Kids First majority is without a flat-tax advocate. And the public is no longer allowed to vote on the budget. As part of the Kids First decision last year to move the election to November, the annual referendum on the budget has ended and the weeks of discussion and debate have disappeared. Whatya know? Taxes go soaring.”

5K Resilience Run is Saturday, April 6

The City of Hoboken is set to present the Hoboken Resilience Run on Saturday, April 6. The 5K run will begin at Pier A at 10 a.m. and there will also be a Fun Run at 11:15 a.m. The cost is $25 in advance and $30 on race day. All proceeds will benefit the Rebuild Hoboken Relief Fund and to another sandy-impacted city in the Caribbean, Port Maria, Jamaica. For more information visit hobokennj.org/5k.

Housing Authority chairman allowed to finish his term

Housing Authority General Counsel Charles Daglian has offered a legal opinion that HHA Chairman Jake Stuiver may serve out the remainder of his term even though he plans to move out of the city. According to an article on a local news website, Stuiver said in an email that he will finish out his term, but will not seek re-election.

Stuiver announced plans on Monday to move out of Hoboken after nearly a decade. Stuiver submitted an inquiry to HHA on the residency requirement of a board member, to find out if he could complete his term, which ends in May.

Daglian said Monday that in his legal opinion there is no residency requirement for board members to live in the town of Hoboken.

The news of Stuiver moving came after a controversial meeting at the Housing Authority two weeks ago.

According to Stuiver’s letter, “The decision to leave town was a very difficult one, but ultimately a necessary one on account of a confluence of personal circumstances that rendered it impossible to keep living in our apartment building.” Stuiver also cited family reasons.

A North Bergen man who worked in a Hoboken pizzeria and has been missing for several weeks was found dead Sunday morning in the woods of Union City with a makeshift noose around his neck, according to NJ.com. The noose was attached to a tree. Prosecutors said no foul play is suspected. Marcos Bruno Garcia was found in the woods near the Palisade cliffs, south of the 14th Street Viaduct between Union City and Hoboken.

BCB Community Bank to sponsor drive to help struggling moms

BCB Community Bank, the Bayonne Rotary Club and the H.I.G.H.W.A.Y.S. Foundation, will be hosting a drive to collect baby and toddler products for struggling area mothers for Mother’s Day. Starting on April 1 through May 3, BCB will provide collection bins in all their branch locations so that employees and customers can make donations of baby and toddler products to help area mothers who find themselves struggling to provide for their children.

Items that are most needed are, diapers (all sizes), dry formula, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, infant and toddler clothing. Once the items have been donated, members of the Bayonne Rotary Club will collect the items and deliver them to the Wallace Temple, where they will be organized and packaged. Once completed, members of the H.I.G.H.W.A.Y.S. Foundation will identify needy mothers in our area and help distribute the items in time for Mother’s Day on May 12.

Anyone wishing to make a contribution can stop in at any BCB branch office and drop off their items in the designated collection bins. This is the first time BCB, the Bayonne Rotary Club, the H.I.G.H.W.A.Y.S. Foundation, and Wallace Temple have collaborated in this type of event.

BCB offers a wide range of loan and deposit products, as well as retail and commercial banking services. BCB has branch offices in Bayonne, Hoboken, Jersey City, South Orange, Woodbridge and Monroe Township.

BCB is open seven days a week, 360 days a year. BCB can be reached at (201) 823-0700 or by emailing www.bcbcommunitybank.com. BCB Community Bank is member FDIC and is an equal housing, equal opportunity lender.

Rug store to go out of business

Overstock Rugs, a 10,000 square foot warehouse located at 20 Wood Avenue in Secaucus, is holding a huge “Going Out of Business Forever Sale” starting March 28. Due to challenging economic conditions, the store will close its doors and must sell off all its remaining thousands of decorative and antique Oriental rugs. They say they are offering up to 75 percent off of many rugs. They say that interior designers and decorators will get even bigger discounts on multiple rugs. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 5 p.m. For directions and more information, call (201) 330-1212 or visit www.overstockrugs.us.

Disaster recovery group to sponsor Red Cross readiness group

SERVPRO, a disaster recovery and cleanup company based in Hoboken that has additional offices in Union City, signed on as a national sponsor of the American Red Cross Ready Rating program, it was announced this week. The program, a free, self-guided tutorial for businesses, organizations and schools become better prepared for emergencies, according to Lance Harvey, owner of SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City in Hoboken.

“This partnership just makes perfect sense,” said Harvey, “and truly completes the readiness equation for businesses and other property owners in the Hoboken area. The American Red Cross Ready Rating Program allows individuals to assess their readiness for a disaster, so they can take all necessary steps before disaster strikes to protect their property from damage and loss.

“But, when disaster does strike, knowing what to do and who to call saves time – and fast response is key to minimizing damage and downtime,” he continued. “That’s where SERVPRO’s Emergency READY Program can help. Together, these two programs offer maximum peace of mind to businesses and other organizations.”

Tom Henegan, the Red Cross’ manager of business continuity programs, said that the partnership will allow businesses to take recovery efforts into their own hands.

“Through the generosity of SERVPRO, the Red Cross will be empowering workplaces to re-open more quickly after natural or man-made disasters such as water main breaks, medical emergencies, power outages, tornados, floods and hurricanes through the Ready Rating Program,” he said.

With the approaching spring season comes the threat of severe weather, such as high winds, downpours, flash flooding, fires caused by lightning strikes and even tornadoes spawned by thunderstorms – SERVPRO urges all Hoboken property owners to visit the American Red Cross Ready Rating website now at http://readyrating.org to complete a 123-point self-assessment of their level of preparedness for weather-related or other emergencies. Aligned with the federal government’s Private Sector Preparedness standards, the Ready Rating assessment offers businesses, organizations and schools access to tools, tips and best practices to help improve their level of preparedness.

Hoboken resident named Crain’s 40 Under 40

The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) announced last week that their Director of Business Development, Anuj Desai, a Hoboken resident, has been selected as one of Crain’s New York Business “40 Under 40” Class of 2013.

Since joining NYeC in November 2010, Desai has led the organization’s market development efforts and has played a crucial role in helping NYeC transform healthcare in New York State through the development of the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY), a secure information network that allows healthcare providers the ability to seamlessly share patient records across the state.

Desai has led strategic initiatives such as the New York Digital Health Accelerator, the creation of the first statewide clinical application programming interface (API) for software developers to create applications for the SHIN-NY, and the development of interoperability standards that allow data sharing across EHRs for physicians which has national impact for over half of the country.

More than 2,000 participate in Hoboken Grace egg hunt

The Hoboken Grace Easter Egg Hunt exceeded expectations on Saturday, March 23 with over 2,000 attendees at Mama Johnson’s field scouring for eggs.

“It was an incredible day,” said Chris High, Pastor of Hoboken Grace. “Hoboken Grace is constantly asking ourselves, how we can impact and serve other people. Today was another step in seeing that happen.”

“We are very proud to be a part of this amazing Easter Egg Hunt Hoboken Grace Church puts together,” said Carmelo Garcia, executive director of the Hoboken Housing Authority. “It truly integrates the family of Hoboken and we are just excited that all these families are out here interacting and having fun!”

Hoboken High School to hold Zumba classes

Hoboken High School will offer Zumba classes on Wednesday, April 10 and Wednesday, April 17 in the school’s gym from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Anyone who wishes to participate needs to pre-register for the classes by Monday, April 8 either by mail, fax, or e-mail. Proceeds will benefit the Hoboken High School Class of 2014. The entry fee is $5 for students, $10 for pre-registered participants for one class or $15 for pre-registered participants for two classes. Otherwise classes are $15 each at the door. For more information or to pre-register call (201) 978-2164, fax (201) 356-3704 or email Christopher.Munoz@hoboken.k12.nj.us

Stage adaptation of Fitzgerald’s ‘Gatsby’ gets NJ Premiere in Hoboken

The Hudson Theatre Ensemble presents award-winning playwright Simon Levy’s stage adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel masterpiece “The Great Gatsby.” Levy’s adaptation has provoked historic excitement and is a powerful realization of the acclaimed novel’s Roaring Twenties, Jazz Age world of Prohibition, wealth, privilege, social worlds colliding, and the irreconcilable contradictions within the American Dream and ultimately the ideal quest itself.

Show dates and times are Fridays at 8 p.m. on April 5 and April 12; Saturdays at 8 p.m. on April 6 and April 13, and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. on April 7 and April 14.

The theater is located in the Hudson School Performance Space, 601 Park Ave. between 6th Street and Park Avenue in Hoboken. Visit the theater’s website at www.hudsontheatreensemble.com/directions.html

The ground-floor theater is completely barrier-free and accessible to persons with disabilities. Tickets are $20, General Admission, $15 for seniors and students. Reservation information can be obtained at (201) 377-7014 or at reservations@hudsontheatreensemble.com